Fun with RPI numbers

The Mountain West has never finished a season with a team in the Top 10 RPI. That just might change in little more than a month.

New Mexico leads the pack at No. 9 in the NCAA RPI version, followed by BYU at 21st, UNLV 36th San Diego State 40th among NCAA contenders. Colorado State is 97th, its best since the NCAA Tournament year at No. 81.

The highest finish in league history was UNLV at No. 11 in 2007.

Joe Lunardi’s best guess bracketology on ESPN.com this week lists BYU and New Mexico, both as No. 4 seeds, UNLV as a No. 7 and San Diego State firmly on the bubble. For years, the MWC has struggled just place one team in the top half of the seeds.

The Sagarin ratings differ with BYU No. 9 and New Mexico at No. 14. UNLV (36th) and San Diego State (49th) round out the MWC’s presence in the Top 50.

The NCAA RPI also includes conference rankings with the MWC 6th, one ahead of the Pac-10.
So would joining Pac-10 expansion really be a move up for Utah.?